Interview by GMANews.TV

2009-01-27T01:20:00.000-08:00

GMANews.tv Interview questions with Mark Ubalde

Kamusta po Adhika!

I visited your blogspot and I must say, I'm a fan of the sculptures!

Anyway, I wrote you guys again for some follow-up questions that I have forgotten to ask:

1) What is your work in Kuwait? How did you guys enter the job? Are your families there too?

2) Will you be opening an exhibit in Philippines too? If ever, where?

3) Why did you name the group 'Adhika'? Who gave the name? (What is the english translation of adj\hika? is it 'mission?')

4) What was the most amazing feedback that a fellow Filipino or OFW said about any of your works?

5) To Jojo: Who commissioned you in the company to paint? What did you paint about? How exactly did the other group members know about it?

6) Any future plans?

Thank you very much for taking time to answer the questions since it would really help me to write the story better and make you guys known to many overseas-based Filipinos . I do hope to get the response from you as soon as possible. (For your information, Filipinos in the middle-east are among the top viewers of our website.)

To Adhika, Mabuhay kayo!

On the exhibit:

1) When do you plan to hold the exhibit and in what
exact venue?

Answr: The 1st group exhibit is scheduled on December
2007, in Kuwait. We have no venue as of the moment but
we are already in the process of discussions with at
least 2 galleries here in Kuwait and 1 in Dubai.

2) Where have you held exhibits before? How was the
reception?

3) Do you plan to target only overseas-based

Answr: The group had discussions about the target
market, and all have express their belief, that there
will be "no" target market, our position is just to
show the artistic capabilities of Filipinos as an
artist.

Filipinos in your art exhibits? What is its theme?

Answr: We are all Filipino in the group and there will
be no thematic for the whole of the exhibit, it will
just be a group exhibit. Each artist will showcase
their own individual artworks. A showcase of Filipino
artisan.

4) How do you fund your shows? Where do the proceeds
go, if ever?

Answr: Funds are settled by each artist on a monthly
contribution, these funds the group as a whole,
portion of any sale from each artist is also given to
the general fund for the group.

As of the moment, we have no beneficiaries, in our 1st
group exhibit we are trying to coordinate with the
Phil. Embassy here in Kuwait for that matter.

On the group, ADHIKA:

5) What exactly is Adhika and when was it founded?

Answr: Adhika was a brainchild of Dave Paez, It
all started when I (jocab) was ask by my office to do
some artworks. I made my 1st painting in my house here
in Kuwait after office hours, since all members were
working in the same company, it just suddenly spread
through, hence came adhika. From then onwards these 5
members were splashing their brushes like they have
been doing it for the longest time.

6) Naka-base po ba talaga kayo sa Kuwait? Since
when? Why did you settle there?

Answr: All 5 members are base in Kuwait, most of us
were all batch-mate in the year 2006, and 1 member
(Ding Bautista) have been working here in Kuwait for
15 years already.

On the (he)art works:

7) There seems to be a constant appearance of some
Middle-east influence in some of your artworks
(particularly dave constantino's). Does this mean,
your artworks are mainly about life in the
middle-east?

Answr: No, basically each member has their own style,
most of us have been working in the middle east for
quite a while already specially Ding Bautista, so
basically each artist have their own beliefs on how to
express their own emotions.

Dave has a broad experience here in the Middle East,
as you can see in his works, he has keen eye for all
cultures not just for the Arabs, but most all
cultures.

8)What other inspirations do you have (each artist
can write an answer :-) )

Answr: (Jojo Cabrera)
Basically I was influnced by my
father Salvador Cabrera, since I was a child I was
expose to the world of arts and the people around it.
I grew-up with a brush in my hands basically, I love
what I do!!! I knew from the start that I 'll be an
artist not just because I could draw but deep in my
heart, I knew that my world is here. It has sustained
me and my family for the longest time, I owe my life
to the world of the arts, and this god given talent I
shall not waste, for it made me what Iam today, and
shall continue.

Answer: (Rolly Patilla)
I have no formal training or background when it comes to arts and literature.
Maybe i could say that my group gave me a lot of influence and inspiration for what am doing now days. I've always remember what Jojo said when we started to form a group, that talent and skills
are not enough to create a good artwork, it is always comes from the heart. As a beginner i put all my
my emotions and soul regardsless of what is the results and what critics said, as long that i recieved my
personal fullment about my artwork, it doesn't matter for me. For me genuine artistry gives splendor beauty to the ugliness..

answer: (Everlito Villacruz)
In other aspect of my work, its influences comes in a different approach, but most of the time, I use to work in impression and abstract painting, I am comfortable in dealing with this kind of style. Study it. Learn from other s. I just take what works and control its thought, and in my own experiences and abilities, then, I let go, but knowing it as a part of myself.

answer: (Ser Ding Bautista jr.)
wala namang nag-impluwensya sakin,pero mula noong bata ako talagang mahilig nako sa drawing,ang una ko kinahiligan ay ang komiks...kapag nakikita ko ang magagandang illustration masaya nako...at sa tingin ko kaya ko rin yun..mula noon hanggang sa ngayon ito na ang buhay ko ...ANG MUNDO NG PAGPIPINTA!

answer: (Dave Paez) -MY CHILDREN namely Dianne, Alec, Senna, AlexUzZiel

9) How do you feel as Pinoy artists in a foreign
land? Are the people there more receptive to your
works?

Answr: (Jojo Cabrera)
I feel that Pinoy artist are very much
appreciated in any part of the world, this is my
experience, when ever Iam in a foreign land and people
sees artworks made by pinoys, all I hear are praises.
I think we pinoy's are blessed in many aspect of the
arts, as we have seen pinoys being praise for
excellent works. We have been always been in the
forefront, this I think is because of our multi
heritage.

The only down-fall I see is, we pinoys are not so well
known with our own culture, in which case... we have
so little, unlike our other asean counter parts like
Thais, Indians, etc. whcih has a very strong cultural
background.

answer: (Rolly Patilla)
now, i didn't feel that i am a full pledge artist, though i know for myself that i have a given talent, i never been doing painting in my whole life, i've just started early this year but i do believed that this talent are all inside of my soul, and most of my artwork represents my true identity to show my personality, that maybe i am the only one who knows the real meaning of my painting. And it so happened that accidentally i opened that door to explore my creative imagination and i am very thanful to my group because without them i know that this things will not be possible for me.

answer: (Everlito Villacruz)
For me, it is advantage working here and at the same time takes my resting minute to make a masterpiece of my owned. (pamatay homesick!!!).Basically most of the people live here in kuwait are very open, but for some part and some reason, because we are new group here, there are a lot of challenges that we had. For this, ADHIKA GROUP takes this as a good experience!

answer: (Ser Ding Bautista jr.)
para sakin,bilang pinoy artist alam ko na angat tayo sa iba...malawak at di kontrolado ang ating kaisipan sa paglikha at malaya nating naipapahayag ito sa pamamagitan ng artwork..kung kaya saaan man tayo naroroon nagugustuhan nila.

answer: (Dave Paez)
As Pinoy artist in a foreign land is something I'm proud of, sometimes I really do feel that this is what I have been working so diligently toward my art? but sooner i adopt their cultures towards my painting, either or both of these techniques, and I have seen so many works of other foreign artist and they are really awesome, but for me Pinoys are very talented and really one of the best (pang-international). We Filipinos have the ability to influence others not only in arts but have ability faster by learning and applying any skills. A God given talent for us Filipinos. Receptive to our works? Some are receptive, you cannot please anybody , 'I don't see any point in hearing them': i dont like your work! i don’t pleased any of them, I create what’s on my heart and mind...coz' I'm an artist.

maraming salamat sa lahat ng bumubuo ng GMA7 ...MABUHAY!!!

ADHIKA GROUP